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Data Storage Management & Cloud Performance

Posted on April 19, 2012

Posted by Gerben Meijer in Cloud Performance 0 Comments

data storage management Cloud management controls allow organizations to better allocate and assess data storage, access and performance. Data segmentation, proximity and continuity planning are critical for best-case data management and performance in the IaaS cloud.

The speed in which data requests are received and processed in the cloud directly impacts end-user performance and response times. It includes two components:

Time it takes for the data to travel from the user to the cloud server.
Time it takes the cloud server to locate necessary information in physical storage and respond to the inquiry.

In short, how long does it take to receive your data, document, access, etc., once you’ve told your computer that you want it?

Poor or inefficient data management in either stage can lead to slow speeds, lost sales, customer and user complaints, business inefficiencies, and more, based on the type of data accessed.

Below are three tips to help you optimize cloud data storage management for better overall performance.

Segment Data Based on Performance Requirements Not all data is created equal. Some data is needed immediately, while other data does not need to be recalled as quickly. Take, for instance, the difference between data associated with critical business processes compared to historical, archived data. More critical process data needs to be stored on high-quality machines that are made for the fastest storage, whereas the historical, archived or backup data can be placed on slower machines. Hierarchal storage management helps with data segmentation and the automatic transfer of data between storage devices. It also can reduce unnecessary data from clogging critical storage systems. Ask your provider if data can be segmented according to performance needs.
Provision Data with Proximity to Users The closer the data is housed to the end user, the faster it can be received and processed. When evaluating providers, understand where data centers are physically located in respect to your organization’s end users. Using detailed management tools and controls, allocate cloud requests to be handled by the network closest to users. Data proximity speeds delivery by reducing the number of jumps from source to destination.
Employ Data Backup and Disaster Recovery (DR) Data backup and DR solutions are necessary to ensure that data is continuously available, even if disaster strikes. Disaster can range from power outages and natural disasters to threat detection securities, cyber attacks and more. How is your cloud engineered for continuity? Backup providers frequently offer user interface dashboards that give insight into successful backups, file location, and space used. While the cloud provider maintains the actual infrastructure, reporting tools give you necessary visibility to ensure that service level agreements (SLAs) are being met, continuity plans are in place and able to be tested, and data is backed up appropriately.